Back-fill and tamping attachment for a self-propelled loader



Oct. 14, 1969 H. M. wYATT 3,471,953

BACK-FILL AND TAMPING ATTACHMENT FOR A SELF--PROPELLED LOADER Filed Nov. l5, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 14, 1969 H. M. wYA'rT 3,471,953

BACK-FILL AND TAMPING ATTACHMENT FGR A SELF`-PROPELLED LOADER Filed Nov. l5, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet /M fm United States Patent O 3,471,953 BACK-FILL AND TAMPING ATTACHMENT` FOR A SELF-PROPELLED LOADER Harold M. Wyatt, Hudson, Iowa, assignor to Universal Manufacturing Company, Hudson, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Filed Nov. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 683,190 Int. Cl. E02f 5/22, 9/ 00 U.S. Cl. 37--142.5 5 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A back-till and tamping attachment for a self-propelled loader comprising a blade means secured to one end of the loader which is adapted to move material towards the trench to be filled. A tamping wheel means is secured to the loader and is adapted to be positioned within the trench to pack or tamp the material deposited in the trench by the blade means.

Trenching machines are widely used to dig trenches so that telephone cables, power lines or the like may be placed under ground. The trenching machine usually digs a trench approximately three to four feet and the cable is then placed in the bottom of the trench. The dirt is then replaced in the trench to close the same. At present, laborers shovel the dirt into the trench and the dirt is packed or tamped by means of gasoline engine driven tampers. The engine driven tampers are somewhat less than satisfactory and usually require two men to operate. It can be appreciated that the above described operation is time consuming.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a back-fill and tamping attachment for a selfpropelled loader.

A further object of this invention is to provide an attachment for a self-propelled loader which efficiently backdills and tamps the trench.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tamping attachment for a self-propelled loader which is connected to the boom means of the loader so that the same may be raised or lowered with respect to the loader.

A further object of this invention is to provide a backill and tamping attachment for a self-propelled loader including a hydraulically operated tamping wheel means.

A further object of this invention is to provide a backfill and tamping attachment for a self-propelled loader having adjustment means thereon to permit the selective adjustment of a blade means and a tamping wheel means.

A further object of this invention is to provide a backlI and tamping attachment for a self-propelled loader which is durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. l is a front perspective View of the attachment secured to a self-propelled loader;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the attachment with portions thereof broken away to more fully illustrate the invention, the broken lines indicating the position to which the tamping wheel may be lowered with the trench;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top view of the attachment with portions thereof cut away to more fully illustrate the invention, the broken lines indicating the position to which the blades may be pivoted; and

3,471,953 Patented Oct. 14, 1969 FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front view of the attachment illustrating the tamper wheel positioned within the trench which is shown in section.

The attachment of this invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and is adapted to be detachably secured to the forward end of a self-propelled loader generally designated by the reference numeral 12. The loader 12 may be of the type such as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 3,319,817. The loader 12 includes a front end 14, rear end 16 and opposite sides 18 and 20. Loader 12 is powered by a conventional power means and includes a hydraulic pump system provided thereon. Loader 12 is provided with a pair of wheels at each side thereof which may be selectively rotated in forwardly or rearwardly directions to propel and steer the loader. Secured to the upward rearward end of the loader 12 are a pair of boom uprights 22 and 24 having booms 26 and 28 pivotally secured thereto respectively. Booms 26 and 28 are pivoted with respect to the loader by means of hydraulic cylinders 30 and 32.

A cross member means 34 is pivotally secured to and extends between the forward ends of booms 26 and 28 and has a pair of tilt cylinders pivotally connected at their lower end thereto. The upper ends of tilt cylinders 36 and 33 are pivotally connected to the booms 26 and 28 as illustrated in FIG. l. Cross member means 34 consists of an elongated angle 40 having spaced apart ear members `42, 44 and 46, 48 secured thereto which extends rear-wardly therefrom. The forward end of boom 26 is pivotally secured between ear members 42 and 44 by a pin 5t] while the forward end of boom 28 is pivotally secured between ear members 46, 48 by means of a pin 52. Secured to the horizontal portion 54 adjacent ear members 42, 44 are a pair of spaced apart ear members 56 and 58 which extend upwardly therefrom and which pivotally receive therebetween the forward end of tilt cylinder 36. A pair of ear members 60I and 62 are also secured to the horizontal portion 54 adjacent the ear members 46 and 48 and extend upwardly therefrom and pivotally receive therebetween the forward end of tilt cylinder 38. A horizontal reinforcing plate 64 is secured to the upper end of angle 40 which extends rearwardly therefrom.

The numeral 66 designates an elongated horizontal channel `which receives the angle 4() and the plate 64 between the tilt cylinders 36 and 38 and is secured thereto by means of pins 68 and 70 extending therethrough. An elongated frame member 72 is secured to the forward end of channel 66 by welding or the like and extends forwardly therefrom as illustrated in FIG. 2. A frame member 74 is secured to the forward end of frame member 72 by welding or the like and extends forwardly therefrom. A pair of frame members 76 and 78 are secured thereto by welding or the like as illustrated in FIG. 2. Frame members 74 and 76 are pivotally connected by means of a pin l80 extending therethrough as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, A pair of locking plates 82 and -84 are selectively pivotally secured to the upper surface of frame member `76 and may be moved to the position of FIG. 3 to limit the pivotal movement of frame member 76 with respect to frame member 74. A bar 86 is secured to one end of frame member 78 by welding or the like and extends outwardly therefrom while a bar 88 is secured to the other end of frame member 78 by welding or the like and extends outwardly therefrom. An arm 90 is pivotally connected to the outer end of bar 86 by a pin 92 and extends forwardly therefrom as illustrated in FIG. 3. The numeral 94 designates a blade member having a semiflexible member` 96 secured to its lower end by any convenient means such as by bolts or rivets. Angle 98 is secured to the outer side of blade 94 by welding or the like and includes a horizontal portion 100. A plate 102 is secured to the outer side of blade 94 at a point above the rearward end of angle 98. The forward end of arm 90 is secured to the blade 94 by means of a pin 104 extending through one of the openings 106 in plate 102 and the registering opening 108 formed in horizontal portion 100 of angle 98. A plate 110 is secured to the outer side of blade 94 at the rearward end thereof at a point above horizontal portion 100 and extends rearwardly therefrom as illustrated in FIG. 2. Blade 94 is secured to frame member 78 by a pin 112 extending through plate 110, one of the openings 114 in frame member 78 and through the rearward end of horizontal portion 100 of angle 98. A caster wheel assembly 116 is pivotally connected to the forward end of horizontal portion 100 of angle 98 and supports the forward end of the blade 94 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The relationship of caster wheel 116 and the forward end of blade 94 may be vertically adjusted by means of the shims 118 which are selectively positioned on opposite sides of the horizontal portion 100. For purposes of description, the blade 94 and its related structure will be collectively described as a blade assembly 120. Inasmuch as the blade assembly at the other side of the attachment is identical to blade assembly 120, the blade assembly will not be described in detail but will be designated by the reference numeral 120".

The tamping wheel assembly of this invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 122 and is pivotally movable with respect to the blade assemblies 120 and 120'. A pair of spaced apart plates 124 and 126 are secured to frame member 72 and extend upwardly therefrom as illustrated in FIG. 1. The forward ends of plates 126 and 128 are provided with a plurality of openings formed therein which are adapted to receive a pin member extending therethrough at times to limit the pivotal movement of a beam 128 which is pivotally connected at its rearward end to the upper rearward ends of plates 124 and 126 by a pin 130. A pair of brackets 132 and 134 are secured to plates 12-4 and 126 by Welding and extend upwardly and forwardly therefrom in a spaced relationship as illustrated in FIG. 1. The hydraulic cylinder 136 is pivotally connected to the upper ends of brackets 132 and 134 by a pin 138. Hydraulic cylinder 136 is operatively connected to the loader hydraulic system by means of conduits 140 and 142. The rod 144 of hydraulic cylinder 136 is pivotally connected to one of the ears 146 `which extend upwardly from beam 128. Plate 150 is secured to the lower forward end of beam 128 by bolts 152 and has a pair of downwardly extending supports 154 and 156 secured thereto. A tamping wheel means 158 is rotatably secured to the lower ends of supports 154 and 156 and includes a cylindrical hub portion 160 having a plurality of spaced apart and staggered fingers 162 extending radially outwardly from the hub portion 160. As seen in FIG. 4, the fingers 162 are cylindrical in shape.

The trench is generally designated by the reference numeral 164 and would have previously been dug by a conventional trenchng machine. The trenching machine piles the dirt from the trench at either side thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. The cable 166 or the like would then be placed in the trench by any suitable means. The loader 12 and the attachment 10 would then be used to backfill the dirt into the trench 164 and to pack or tamp the same to prevent subsequent settling of the soil. Initially, the booms 26 and 28 of the loader 12 would be moved so that the blade assemblies 120 and 120 would engage the piles of dirt at either side of the trench as illustrated in FIG. 4. The angle of the blades with respect to the trench can obviously be changed by varying the position of the arms 90 and 90 with respect to the openings 108 and 108 and this adjustment is indicated by broken lines in FIG. 3. Likewise, the rearward ends of the blade 94 can be moved with respect to the frame member 78 by inserting the pin 112 in any of the various openings 114. The locking plates 82 and 84 would be loosened and Cil pivoted out of engagement `with frame member 74 so that the frame members 76 and 78 and the blade assemblies can pivot about pin to permit the attachment to cornpensate for various irregularities in the terrain. Tilt cylinders 36 and 38 are also operated to adjust the relative position of the blade assemblies with respect to the ground.

Preferably, the tamping wheel 158 is raised with respect to the blade assemblies by means of hydraulic cylinder 136 during the time that the blades initially fill the dirt into the trench. Thus, as the loader 12 passes over the trench 164 for the first time, the blades will direct the dirt into the trench. The loader 12 is then passed over the trench for a second time and the tamping wheel is lowered into the trench to pack or tamp the dirt which has been deposited therein by the blades. The hydraulic cylinder 136 can exert a tremendous amount of weight on the tamping wheel 158 so that the dirt within the trench will be firmly packed. Additionally, the booms 26 and 28 together with the tilt cylinders 36 and 38 can be operated so that a portion of the weight of the loader 12 can be also exerted on the tamping wheel 58. As the loader 12 moves along the trench 164, the tamping wheel 158 rolls along within the trench and the fingers 162 penetrate the soil ywhich aids in packing the dirt within the trench. The blades may also be used during the tamping operation to push additional dirt into the trench as the tamping wheel is packing the dirt therein. The above described operation may be repeated if necessary to accomplish the packing or tamping operation. It should also be noted that the tamping wheel may be used during the initial trench filling operation as the procedure outlined above is merely a suggested one and will necessarily vary with the types of trenches, soil conditions, etc. The last step in the operation would be to pass over the trench with the attachment with the tamper wheel raised and with the blades in such a position so that any remaining dirt will be piled on the top portion of the trench.

It may sometimes be desirable to pivot the blades so that they are substantially transverse to the direction of travel. Pins 92 and 92 could be inserted through suitable openings in horizontal portions and 100 to maintain the blades in position.

The attachment 10 has been described as being particularly well adapted for use with a self-propelled loader such as described herein but it can be appreciated that the attachment can be used with any vehicle having means thereon to which the attachment 10 could be secured. Thus it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

I claim:

1. In combination,

a self-propelled vehicle having rearward and forward ends and opposite sides, a pair of driven wheels at each side of said vehicle being selectively driven in rearwardly or forwardly directions to propel and steer the vehicle, first and second boom members pivotally secured at one end to said vehicle adjacent the rearward end thereof and extending forwardly over said vehicle,

a first hydraulic clinder means connected to said boom members for pivotally moving said boom members to cause the forward ends thereof to be raised and lowered with respect to the ground,

a first frame means operatively pivotally secured to the forward ends of said boom members and extending therebetween, said frame means being pivotal about a horizontal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle,

a second hydraulic cylinder means connected to said boom members and said frame means for pivotally moving said frame means with respect to said boom members,

a blade means connected to said first frame means and extending forwardly therefrom, said blade means being raised and lowered by the operation of said boom members, said blade means adapted to move material towards a trench to be iilled.

an arm member pivotally secured about a horizontal axis at its rearward end to said iirst frame means,

a third hydraulic cylinder means connected to said arm member for pivotally moving said arm member with respect to said lirst frame means and said blade means,

a tamping wheel means rotatably secured to the forward end of said arm member adapted to enter the trench and to tamp the material in the trench by the blade means when said arm member is pivotally moved downwardly ywith respect to said tirst frame means by said third hydraulic cylinder means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first frame means includes a rst cross member means, a second cross member means selectively pivotally secured to said iirst cross member means about a horizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and transverse to the pivotal axis between said boom members and said first frame means, said blade means thereby being pivotal about a longitudinal horizontal axis with respect to said vehicle, said blade means including first and second blade members pivotally secured at one end thereof to opposite ends of said second cross member means and extending forwardly and outwardly therefrom.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein a locking means selectively locks said rst and second cross member means together to prevent relative rotational movement therebetween at times.

References @Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 525,426 9/1894 Monroe 172-783 975,457 11/1910 Ransome 37-142.5 1,384,617 7/1921 Lee 172-786 1,711,488 5/1929 Bising 37-44 2,4913 10 1/ 1950 Armington 172-784 XR 2,891,335 6/1959 Linneman 37-142.5 3,222,804 12/1965 Kuhl 172-801 XR 3,319,817 5/1967 Juhl et al. 214-778 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner C. D. CROWDER, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 172-159, 801 

